CHAPTER 2

The full moon was glowing brightly amidst Silverpelt as the cats gathered at the hollow entrance. Echopaw tagged at the rear with Honeypaw and Stormpaw, his chest was bursting with excitement at attending his first Gathering with the other Clans. Barkstar was talking to his father at the front, Ferretface and Fawnstep with them. The medicine cat, Briarnose was exchanging words with Cherryfern and Foxtail. Talonclaw, Brightfur and Loudfire were huddled together. The elders were waiting patiently with Dapplecloud.

By the nursery entrance, Maple-eye's kits looked wistfully out. Echopaw could relate to how they felt. When he was a kit moons ago, he would look out to wish the departing warriors good luck on their journey to the island. He was proud that he could finally go with the older and much experienced warriors now. The other two apprentices, Sleekpaw and Hazelpaw were left behind as they were exhausted from the day's training. It wouldn't be long before they were made into warriors.

Finally, Barkstar lead the way out into the forest with his Clan cats streaming after him. Loudfire and and his mate, Brightfur offered to take the rear and the three apprentices raced through the thorn barrier right after Talonclaw. They made it out onto the shore. The moon was reflected on the surface of the calm lake, disturbed by the faint ripples of the water. The ThunderClan cats kept to one-tail length from the water's edge as they crossed the WindClan border. Echopaw couldn't help but streaked ahead of his littermates and mentor, still ashamed. He hoped that he wouldn't be seen by any passing WindClan cats.

Finally, they reached the RiverClan border and the tree-bridge. Barkstar crossed first followed by the other cats, Talonclaw hung back to let the apprentices cross.

"Don't look down and don't panic," he advised them.

Echopaw leaped up first, his claws gripped the bark tightly. He inched forward little by little. Ahead of him was the elder Graytail who moved along the length of the fallen tree with ease. Mustering his courage, he started to place one paw in front of the other with growing courage until he could jump down the other side. Stormpaw followed soon after but Honeypaw was still hanging back at the end. Their mentors were encouraging her with mounting impatience.

The golden apprentice took a deep breath and tried to streak across the tree-bridge, with a shriek of surprise, her paws slipped from under her and she crashed into the dark water below. Brightfur was too shocked to save her apprentice. Loudfire climbed up the bridge followed by Talonclaw and they made their way directly over Honeypaw who was paddling vigorously. Loudfire reached over the edge with the bigger warrior supporting him with his teeth clamped in his tail. With a desperate heave, Loudfire was just able to grab Honeypaw by the scruff and haul her out of the water.

Guilty satisfaction took over Echopaw as Loudfire dropped the bundle of wet fur on the beach the other side of the tree-bridge. But he couldn't help but feel pity as the sun had gone down and there was no warmth in the air. What's more she would be attending her first Gathering soaking wet for all the Clans to see.

"Is it my turn next?" Stormpaw rolled his eyes as the three apprentices made their way into the clearing.

They emerged into the place of the Gathering filed with more cats than they had ever seen before. Echopaw was stunned as he took in his surrounding. Scents from different Clans filled the air and he was overwhelmed with confusion. The cats looked so much like him and yet, they were so different. He remembered TalonClaw telling him that WindClan raced under the open sky, RiverClan swimming and ShadowClan eating frogs, and ThunderClan being the most ordinary out of the four Clans, and yet these cats were more or less just like him and his other Clanmates.

Briarnose had gone to join the other medicine cats at the edge of the clearing and the deputies had settled themselves under the Great Oak where the leaders sat on its branches overlooking the cats from four Clans.

Uncertain, the three apprentices made their way down into the crowded clearing, receiving nudges and shoves and a few shocked glances at Honeypaw who was still soaking wet.

"Over here!" Someone called to them in the centre; a small apprentice.

Echopaw started to make his way over, followed by Stormpaw and Honeypaw. The apprentices from all four Clans had gathered together there and Echopaw felt an uncharacteristic shyness swept over him.

"I'm glad to meet ThunderClan apprentices," the tom said. "My name is Rainpaw and I am from RiverClan. These are my sisters, Leafpaw and Moonpaw."

One of the apprentices had struck Echopaw's attention when their eyes met, he couldn't help but stare. Not realizing it until it was too late.

"You can close your mouth. It's big enough for a fish to leap into it," the apprentice purred. Her eyes were multi-coloured; dark leaf-green on one side and amber orange on the other like the sunset.

"I - I'm sorry I stared," Echopaw mumbled.

The apprentice shrugged. "It's okay, I get that a lot even from my own mother when I first opened my eyes," she meowed.

"I'm Echopaw."

"Moonpaw. Is that your sister? Why is she drenched?"

"Ah...she fell in while crossing the tree-bridge."

Moonpaw purred with laughter. "Maybe she has RiverClan blood."

Echopaw was drawn to this easygoing cat. He couldn't help but feel at ease with her and she was funny too.

"Let the Gathering begin!" A large white tom declared. All eyes faced the front, but not before Moonpaw settled herself next to Echopaw.

"That's Snowstar, our leader," she whispered into his ear. "He fought many battles and saved many lives."

Echopaw stared in fascination at the muscular tom. His white fur seemed to glow in the moonlight and he looked dignified standing among the leaders as if he had power over them too. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought Snowstar had descended straight from the stars.

"RiverClan is thriving this greenleaf and the river is abundant with fish, our bellies will be full for moons," he informed. "We are also proud to announce that we have three new apprentices today. Leafpaw, Rainpaw and Moonpaw."

The whole clearing raised their voices to welcome the new apprentices. Moonpaw seemed as if she would burst with pride, she held her head high and her eyes were bright. Echopaw was oddly curious that she was also just made an apprentice.

Snowstar retreated and Barkstar took his place.

"That's my leader, Barkstar," Echopaw meowed proudly to Moonpaw. "He is brave and told in many stories."

Looking up at Barkstar now, Echopaw admitted that there was something about his leader that he hadn't noticed before. He looked stronger and braver, and definitely looked like he had seen and lived through many battles.

"ThunderClan is also happy to announce that three apprentices have been made. Echopaw, Honeypaw and Stormpaw."

He paused as the whole clearing chanted their names. Echopaw felt hot with pride, he glanced at his littermates to see that they were also feeling the same way and, despite her wet fur, Honeypaw was also beaming. He decided that he loved this feeling, this feeling of achieving something. It felt good.

"We have increased the size of our warrior's den and prey is fluorishing. ThunderClan would be well-fed for moons to come," Barkstar concluded and returned to the shadows of the tree leaves.

A dark ginger cat came to the front and declared that another apprentice had been made in ShadowClan, Dawnpaw. Chants were made, loudest of all were from the ShadowClan cats. Echopaw glanced around to see the appointed apprentice and saw her shrinking under the pressure of the gazes from the Clans, but she was no doubt flattered.

"Look at that poor, cat," Moonpaw meowed once the chants had ceased. "There's a claw mark on her shoulder."

Echopaw peered closely at Dawnpaw and realised that Moonpaw was right. Hidden under her pelt was a claw mark which seemed to be fresh. Echopaw wondered what had happened to the apprentice of her first day.

After the usual report from Pinestar, the ShadowClan leader, the last leader came forward, a pretty-looking tortoiseshell she-cat, who announced yet the appointing of new apprentices.

"Dodgepaw! Bluepaw!"

"Don't you think a lot of apprentices had been welcome tonight?" Moonpaw asked him.

"A lucky day for all of the Clans," Echopaw guessed.

After an announcement of fields abundant with running rabbits, the clearing broke out to share tongues and the leaders jumped out of the tree and sat to talk casually under it.

"What an exciting night!" Moonpaw meowed delightfully.

"Echopaw," Stormpaw called him. "Come and meet this apprentice from WindClan, his name is Bluepaw."

As Echopaw went over, he stopped dead in his path and stared at the apprentice. Bluepaw did likewise. This was the cat who had laughed at him on his first day out of camp. Shame burned his eartips and his head yelled at himself to run away, instead his paws were planted on the ground. He braced himself for the apprentice's laughter.

But Bluepaw just nodded his head in greeting. "Nice to meet you, Echopaw," Bluepaw mewed politely.

"Oh, so you know him already?" Stormpaw queried curiously.

Bluepaw purred. "No, you just called his name a moment ago."

"Oh, right." Stormpaw curled his tail in embarrassment.

"Your eyes looks so beautiful!" Honeypaw gasped as she met Moonpaw. The RiverClan apprentice stepped back in surprise at the sudden exclamation.

"Thanks..." She replied awkwardly.

Echopaw stepped in to save his new friend. "Don't do that, Honeypaw. You look as if you've seen a flying mouse."

"But this is equivalent as a flying mouse! I've never seen or heard some other cat talking about a cat with two different coloured eyes before!"

With every word, her voice was raised higher and higher until Echopaw was sure she would drag the attention of every cat in the clearing.

"My mentor is calling, I have to go." Moonpaw dashed away, her sister Leafpaw streaking behind her.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a cat slipping away. Dawnpaw was trying to edge herself away from the other apprentices but her efforts were proven to be futile because of the crowded clearing. Curiousity gripped Echopaw and he made his way towards her.

"Dawnpaw?"

The apprentice nearly jumped out of her pelt. "Yes?"

"I'm Echopaw from ThunderClan."

Dawnpaw nodded shyly. "I'm Dawnpaw, from ShadowClan."

Echopaw thought of how to approach the subject of the mark on her shoulder. "Well, I hope we can meet again," he said, feeling tremendously stupid of himself.

"Likewise."

Before he could say anymore, Barkstar announced the departure of ThunderClan. The other Clan leaders also called for their respective Clans.

"See you next time," Dawnpaw almost whispered as she hurried away toward her Clanmates.

Echopaw joined his and they left the clearing and headed for home. Luckily, no other apprentices fell off the tree-bridge and every one made it back to camp dry.

His paws were soar from traveling all the way to the island and back again and yet, he couldn't help but feel a lightness in his heart at meeting the other apprentices. He curled into his nest and drifted into sleep, but not before seeing Moonpaw's multi-coloured eyes glowing in the darkness.